Uh-oh! Counter-surfing puppies can be frustrating, especially when you are trying to cook and need to watch them like a hawk! Not to mention, many human foods are not safe for puppies to ingest. So what do you do?
What is Counter-Surfing and Why Does Your Puppy Do it?
The term “counter-surfing” refers to puppies and dogs that jump up on tables, kitchen counters, and any number of surfaces to help themselves to whatever food they may find. It could also be items your puppy finds interesting and looks like a potential toy but most commonly this behavior is food driven.
Puppies are curious, especially in the early months of life when they first come to their new forever home. Something that smells delicious and is within reach is an obvious target for a hungry and curious puppy. By nature, they follow their noses and will seek out those opportunities to jump up and investigate. Once your puppy learns that jumping up on a counter means potentially something delicious, they are conditioned to think this behavior reaps positive outcomes.
But counter-surfing can also be related to not being taught proper boundaries yet, your puppy is seeking attention from you, or they are bored and working through their energy by getting into something they shouldn’t. Puppies under 6 months old should have their space managed to prevent counter surfing, which includes teaching them what to do instead of jumping up on surfaces!
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Tip #1: Utilize a Daily Puppy Schedule
Get your puppy on a daily schedule to help them know what to do during the day. Having designated times they are in and out of their crate or playpen can help you in managing their daily activities and ensure someone is around to monitor them during their scheduled times out of their crate or playpen. By eliminating any free-roaming, you are being proactive in preventing your puppy from getting into any trouble, including counter surfing!
Tip #2: Create a Safe Zone
Whenever you are not walking, working, or playing with your puppy, they should be in a safe area like a crate or playpen. Or, they can be tethered to you! This way they’re not given the freedom to make bad decisions, and prevent an unwanted behavior like counter surfing, from becoming a habit.
Tip #3: Teach Your Puppy the Place Command
“Place” is a great way to teach your puppy to target specific locations you want to go to and stay there, but also, gives them a designated place to send them to while you’re preparing food or cooking! Check out our blog “Puppy Training 101: Teach Your Puppy Place Command Routines!” to learn how to teach your puppy this command!
In the beginning, as they’re learning Place command, you can use their harness and leash to attach to a sturdy object to help keep them from wandering. Anytime you have your pup on leash, make sure you are around to supervise them!
Utilizing toys like puzzles and Kongs, along with safe chew sticks, can also provide mental stimulation for your puppy and help keep them staying on Place and away from counters!
How to Train Your Puppy to be able to Handle more Freedom in the Home
Practice impulse control around their own food: Have them on a leash in one hand, with their food bowl in the other, ask your puppy to sit, and slowly lower the bowl to the ground. If they go for the food, lift the bowl up, reset them into a sit, pause for a couple of seconds, and repeat. Do it over and over again until you can set the bowl fully down without them going for it, then release them to eat it.
Practice impulse control around human food: When your pup approaches you when you’re carrying a plate of your own food, stop and ask your puppy for a sit, or tell them to go to Place. Then reward them with one of their treats for moving away from your food. This teaches your puppy that when they back up, that’s how they get something good. This way you avoid nurturing that drive to get towards food.
Teach your puppy to go to their crate or Place when you’re cooking: With a piece of their food or treat in your hand, and leash in the other, guide your puppy to their Place, reward them for getting on, release them, and repeat! Begin adding longer pauses to increase the duration they hang out on Place for. This is the beginning of teaching them how to be calm on command! And if your puppy just isn’t ready for this yet, use a crate instead! Get your puppy enjoying going into their crate by doing several repetitions of tossing a treat into their crate, having the go in to retrieve it, and saying “Come” to have them come back to you. This creates a fun, positive association with the crate.
BONUS: While they’re inside their crate, you can use the crate door and teach your puppy how to stay in there even when the door is open and wait for permission to come out. This activity will help further improve their impulse control and their ability to gain more access to freedom around the house as they grow, and not jump on the counter!
Take Preventative Measures
It goes without saying that preparedness is key when it comes to raising a puppy! Avoid the temptation of counter-surfing altogether by being mindful to not leave out food or items that your puppy may mistake for a fun new toy! Make it a point to go through each room where your puppy is allowed in and check your lower counters for anything that is potentially attention-grabbing for your puppy! Even while monitoring them, puppies can be quick and lunge for something before you can get to them!
Puppy-proofing is just one of the ways to avoid having your puppy getting into something they shouldn’t and help keep them safe!
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Set Up a Puppy Gate
Along with puppy-proofing your home, investing in puppy gates to completely block access to your kitchen can significantly help you with preventing a counter-surfing puppy! Although this is a temporary tool, while you’re working on their impulse control it’s a great way to help manage your space and set your puppy up for the best success!
Are you dealing with a counter-surfer at home? Need more troubleshooting tips to stop this behavior? Join us every Wednesday on @thepuppyacademy Instagram at 1 pm PT for our live Ask a Puppy Trainer Q&A!
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